3. Efforts to Stop • Repeated specific attempts to the behavior, which fail • Even after multiple life changing consequences, the sex addict cannot stop -- Leads to further frustration, anger, shame and depression (fueling further episodes of addictive behavior)

4. Loss of Time • Significant amounts of time lost doing and/or recovering from the behavior

5. Inability to Fulfill Obligations • The behavior interferes with work, school, family, and friends • High-risk behavior is continued despite responsibilities and expectations • A pattern of broken promises and failures

7. Preoccupation (Obsession about or because of behavior) • Sexual obsession and fantasy as a primary coping strategy • Elevated levels of arousal are used to cover up feelings • Sex becomes a primary drug to numb, "medicate" and/or regulate emotions • Sex is used to block out painful and unpleasant memories • Euphoric Recall or "Sex in the head" maintains the fix whenever needed -- Secretive mental images of past sexual acting out, which is used to sexually act out again -- Its like having a personal collection of pornography to be used at any time

8. Escalation • Amounts of behavior increase because the current levels no longer satiate cravings -- Higher "dosages" are needed to get the same feeling/excitement. -- Can cause self injury • Masturbation to the point of injury • Asphyxiation -- Increased levels create victims

9. Severe mood changes around sexual activity • Depression, anxiety, anger, and other mood/affective states can result from repeated failures to stop or control the addictive behavior • 70% described chronic feelings of depression -- Other chronic mood or affective states include: • Anxiety • Guilt and shame • Anger at self and others • Hopelessness and despair (monitor suicidal ideations) -- Mood changes may be "medicated" (hidden) through the use of other drugs or m medications

10. Compulsive Behavior • Sexual behavior that you want to stop but you can't • A pattern of out of control behavior over time • Sex becomes the organizing principal of daily life • Everything revolves around it -- On sexual obsessions and fantasizing -- On planning next event -- On sexual acting out (some spend 8 hours a night on the internet) -- On covering up or making up for lost time -- Addressing consequences of sexual behavior

11. Losses • Losing, limiting, or sacrificing valued parts of life -- Hobbies, family relationships, and work -- Loss of important personal, social, occupational or recreational activities -- Loss of friends and family (loss of relationships) -- Loss of long-term relationships -- Loss of talents, goals, and personal and professional aspirations

I provide psychotherapy, evaluations (ADHD, addictions/substance abuse), supervision, consultation, and training to diverse clientele. I specialize in challenging teens (challenging parents), substance abuse/addictions, codependency/co-addictions, ADHD, adult survivors of childhood abuse or trauma, depression and/or anxiety, and grief and bereavement. As an expert in the field of sex addiction and sex co-addiction, I provide a variety of assessment, treatment and consultation/training services.

Current treatment approaches for ,sexual compulsion, as well as deviant sex, tend to be mechanistic and based on behavioral/ cognitive models. This article, written by a psychoanalyst, posits an psychodynamically oriented approach to understanding and treating this ever-increasing number of ,sex addicts, who seek treatment.

No question, the term, "sex addict" definitely provokes something in all of us. Like other addictions, sex addiction is a way to cover or change feelings. It is a substitute for dealing effectively with life.

Unlike for alcohol or drug addiction, there is no formal diagnosis for Sex Addiction in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM IV). According to Chester Schmidt, chair of the DSM-IV Sexual Disorder Work Group, there is “no scientific data to support a concept of sexual behavior that can be considered addictive. (1)” Schmidt believed that what is called sex addiction is more likely a symptom of other psychological problems like depression, obsessive-compulsive

Recently it has become more commonplace to have clients come into my office and state that they have a sex addiction. Often when asked how this was diagnosed they respond that their spouse or other family member told them or they read a book and self-diagnosed. Sometimes when examined more closely, the client does not have a sexual problem at all, just a higher than average sex drive well as living in a sex negative environment.

Different aspects trigger sexual addiction, otherwise known as sexual compulsivity. The obsession to sexually abnormal display is a complicated topic and can comparatively be qualified to a single cause . Sex compulsion could be a accumulation of different factors at once , such as emotional trauma.

Psychological therapy has grown immensely over the past seventy years. It is important to remember that the first psychologists were medical doctors called psychiatrists, and that we were primarily concerned with healing mental illness through a groundbreaking new treatment called psychotherapy. Early psychiatrists such as Freud and Jung considered themselves primarily to be scientists, and while their methods and theories of the human psyche were disparate, they were both intent on uncovering t

This article deals with spirituality and is part of a series of articles dealing with the search for serenity and inner peace. The series is a condensed version of my recently published book (Floody, 2011). My rather unabashed goal is to make findings from a balanced positive psychology more available to the general public. For more information, see www.balancedpsych.com.

What if it could be New Years Eve everyday? What if we could simply forgive ourselves for what has been, refocus on what we want in our lives and then get excited? Would that make a difference in your life? Knowing that you had a chance to start over?

After reviewing considerable information related to serenity and inner peace, the author developed the "Viterbo Serenity Inventory", a scale meant to asses one's current level of serenity and inner peace. The scale is included in the article, as well as comparative (normative) information. Subsequent articles will focus more the individual components of serenity (labeled "Higher Power", "Harmony", "Positivity", and "Lifestyle"). Take it easy!

As you refine your mindset as much as possible, the success you want will happen as much as possible. This is because your mindset, thoughts, emotions and focus is responsible for what happens in your life. As you refine your mind and do all the things necessary for your success, you will be able to create much greater success than you could ever imagine in your whole entire life. We talk about this more below.

Seven years ago I was asked by a friend if I was "religious and if I believed in God?" As a (formerly) practicing agnostic I quickly answered:"no." However, I defended myself by explaining that I lived my life according to universal principals of "right and wrong" (as I understood them). Because I believed that our deeds create a lasting effect on the world, I felt confident in my everlasting future. The following poem represents this philosophy.

Once in a while, during a moment of apparent moment of personal insight and enlightenment, I am compelled to write a poem. These poems seem to have a life of their own; they almost write themselves. Until the poem is finished, the emotion I am feeling or the insight I have reached, won't subside. And when the poem is is completed, I then reach deep feelings of satisfaction--a moment of catharsis.

Five years ago, during a life changing Victories of the Heart (http://victoriesoftheheart.net/) ret

I believe a successful life comes from the right choices at the right time, as well as the willingness to pursue the goals inherent in these choices. Robert Frost nailed the “choices” challenge in his poem The Road Less Traveled. In this poem, he saw the value of ending up at a “crossroads” in life.

Over the course of my career, I have helped many clients pursue a sense of personal power and emotional health sufficient enough to be safe, strong, and healthy while working through relationships with aggressive and/or abusive partners.

Unlike for alcohol or drug addiction, there is no formal diagnosis for Sex Addiction in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM IV). According to Chester Schmidt, chair of the DSM-IV Sexual Disorder Work Group, there is “no scientific data to support a concept of sexual behavior that can be considered addictive. (1)” Schmidt believed that what is called sex addiction is more likely a symptom of other psychological problems like depression, obsessive-compulsive

The "dance" of codependency requires two people: the pleaser/fixer and the taker/controller. This inherently dysfunctional dance can only happen with one partner who is a codependent and another partner who is a narcissist (abuser or addict). Codependents do not know how to emotionally disconnect or avoid significant relationships with individuals who are selfish, controlling, and harmful to them. They find partners who are experienced with their dance style: a dance that begins as thrilling and

I provide psychotherapy, evaluations (ADHD, addictions/substance abuse), supervision, consultation, and training to diverse clientele. I specialize in challenging teens (challenging parents), substance abuse/addictions, codependency/co-addictions, ADHD, adult survivors of childhood abuse or trauma, depression and/or anxiety, and grief and bereavement. As an expert in the field of sex addiction and sex co-addiction, I provide a variety of assessment, treatment and consultation/training services.